Package-carrier car.



L. B. BETHARDS.` PACKAGE CARRIER GAR.

APPLICATION FILED IAR. 5, 1908 Patented July 6,' 1909 IIIIWIIIIIIIIIIII" gans:

UNITED sTATns PnTENT ormoni.

LONZO B. BETHARDS, OF OHIO/AGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKA GE CARRIER CAR.

To all whom it 'may concern: j

Be it known that I, LoNzoB. BETHAnDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Carrier Oars, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a art of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

My invention relates to package carriers such as are ordinarily used in store service apparatus; the object of said invention being to so construct a car adapted to travel upon an elevated way, that the basket suspended therefrom may be properly cushioned so as to enable the ear to be easily and naturall y actuated by the propelling mechanism and to have its movement arrested at the end of the way without injury or unnecessary j ar.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a car embodying the features of my invention, Fig. 2 is a like view in longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in plan of a portion of a car.

Referring to the drawings, (L represents generally the body or frame of the car, which consists of parallel plates l) b separated from each other as shown. Said car is provided with the usual carrying wheels c c, adapted to run upon a wire way, beneath which is located retaining rollers d d mounted upon bearings c c. A hollow bushing g is located between the plates through which is projected a bolt y. l Jointedly connected with the bolt f is a suspension element generally designated by 7L, which consists of two parallel plates i i rigidly connected by means of studs y', Fig. 2, which serve as engaging elements for a locking dog, not shown, which is connected with the bail of the usual hanging basket or carrying receptacle. The basket, the locking mechanism and the suspending element 7L are all old within themselves, except that the upper portions of the plates i are made longer in order that they may be suspended from a much higher point. When so suspended, the device with the receptacle rigidly locked thereto, is adapted to oscillate in the direction of the axis of the car.

Rigidly secured between the frame-plates Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1908.

Patented .Tuly 6, 1909.

sei-iai No. 419,377.

l) of the car are blocks 7c 7c, Figs. 2 and Si, through bores in which is projected a rod l having rings or shoulders m 'la formed thereon or rigidly attached thereto near itsiniddle. Ooiled springs n n, are interposed between the shoulders m 1n respectively, `and the blocks 7c. Ring-like projections or shoulders o o are formed upon the inner faces of the members i in position to extend between and engage the shoulders m in the manner shown.

The car is provided with the usual spring controlled catches adapted to engage with buffer hooks at the respective ends of the line. When the movement of the car is arrested after its passage, the impact is such that, were the basket rigidly suspended, there would be danger of throwing the articles from the car or of injuring or breaking the apparatus. The aim, therefore, is to provide means for producing a cushioning effect that will cause the least injury to the parts and the minimum disturbance to the goods. I am enabled to accomplish this result by placing the point of suspension of the part It much higher than has heretofore been done and by employing the rod Z with cushioning springs a. This arrangement enables said springs to be made of such a .length as to provide for a longer swing of the basket while producing an easy and gentle cushioning movement. Furthermore, the springs may be made of such a length that in use the movement may always be within the limits of elasticity, thereby enabling them to be used indefinitely without deterioration. By placing the point of suspension above the track-wire, the line of draft in starting the car is between said point of suspension and the load, which is a matter of considerable importance in practice and results in a more perfect balancing of the car.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a car mounted upon an elevated way, of a suspension element for supporting a carrying receptacle, said element being jointedly connected to said car at a point above the level of the way, a longitudinally disposed rod supported upon the car and coiled springs mounted upon said rod upon the opposite sides of said suspending element for cushioning the impact of said carrying receptacle when the movement of the car is arrested.

2. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a car mounted upon an elevated way, of a suspending element for a carrying receptacle, said element being ointedly connected to said car between the front and rear wheels thereof, at a point above the level of the way, to permit said element to swing longitudinally, a longitudinally disposed rod having bearings upon the car in front and rear of the vertical plane of the axis of said suspending element, springs mounted upon said rod between said bearings, and means for connecting the adjacent ends of said springs to said suspending element.

3. In a device oi the class described, the combination with a car mounted upon an elevated way, of a suspending element jointedly connected to said car between the front and rear wheels thereof, at a point above the level of the way, to permit said element to swing longitudinally, said suspending element being arranged to support a carrying receptacle, a longitudinally disposed rod slidably mounted in bearings upon the car in front and rear of the vertical plane of the axis of said suspending element, shoulders upon said rod between said bearings, means for connecting said suspending element with said shoulders to move said rod longitudinally when the said element is actuated, and coiled springs mounted upon said rod between said shoulders and bearings respectively.

In testimony whereofl I have signed this specii'ication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of February, 1908.

LONZO B. BETHARDS.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, CARRIE E. J ORDAN. 

